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Christianity
In Judaism, Satan is a term used since its earliest biblical contexts to refer to a human opponent.
[26]
Occasionally, the term has been used to suggest evil influence opposing human beings, as in
the Jewish exegesis of the Yetzer hara ("evil inclination" Genesis 6:5). Micaiah's "lying spirit" in
1 Kings 22:22 is sometimes related. Thus, Satan is personified as a character in three different
places of the Tenakh, serving as an accuser (Zechariah 3:12), a seducer (1 Chronicles 21:1), or
as a heavenly persecutor who is "among the sons of God" (Job 2:1). In any case, Satan is always
subordinate to the power of God, having a role in the divine plan. Satan is rarely mentioned in
Tannaitic literature, but is found in Babylonian aggadah.[20]
In medieval Judaism, the Rabbis rejected these Enochic literary works astray", "distant", or
sometimes "devil") is a figure appearing in the texts of the Abrahamic religions[2][3] who brings
evil and temptation, and is known as the deceiver who leads humanity astray. Some religious
groups teach that he originated as an angel, or something of the like, who used to possess great
piety and beauty, but fell because of hubris, seducing humanity into the ways of falsehood and
sin, and has power in the fallen world. In the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament, Satan is
primarily an accuser and adversary, a decidedly malevolent entity, also called the devil, who
possesses demonic qualities.
Although Satan is generally viewed as having negative characteristics, some groups have very
different beliefs. In Theistic Satanism, Satan is considered a deity who is either worshipped or
revered. In LaVeyan Satanism, "Satan" is a symbol of virtuous characteristics and liberty.[4][5]
Contents
1 Judaism
o 1.1 Hebrew Bible
1.2.1 Septuagint
2 Christianity
o 2.1 Terminology
3 Islam
o 3.1 Sufi view of Satan
4 Yazidism
5 Bah' Faith
6 Satanism
o 6.1 Theistic Satanism
o 6.2 Atheistic Satanism
7 Notes
8 References
9 External links
Judaism
Hebrew Bible
The original Hebrew term satan is a noun from a verb meaning primarily "to obstruct, oppose",
as it is found in Numbers 22:22, 1 Samuel 29:4, Psalms 109:6.[6] Ha-Satan is traditionally
translated as "the accuser" or "the adversary". The definite article ha- (English: "the") is used to
show that this is a title bestowed on a being, versus the name of a being. Thus, this being would
be referred to as "the satan".[7]
Thirteen occurrences
Ha-Satan with the definite article occurs 13 times in the Masoretic Text, in two books of the
Hebrew Bible: Job ch.12 (10x)[8] and Zechariah 3:12 (3x).[9]
Satan without the definite article is used in 10 instances, of which two are translated diabolos in
the Septuagint and "Satan" in the King James Version:
1 Chronicles 21:1, "Satan stood up against Israel" (KJV) or "And there standeth up an
adversary against Israel" (Young's Literal Translation)[10]
Psalm 109:6b "and let Satan stand at his right hand" (KJV)[11] or "let an accuser stand at
his right hand." (ESV, etc.)
The other eight instances of satan without the definite article are traditionally translated (in
Greek, Latin and English) as "an adversary", etc., and taken to be humans or obedient angels:
Numbers 22:22,32 "and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against
him."
1 Samuel 29:4 The Philistines say: "lest he [David] be an adversary against us"
2 Samuel 19:22 David says: "[you sons of Zeruaiah] should this day be adversaries
(plural) unto me?"
1 Kings 5:4 Solomon writes to Hiram: "there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent."
1 Kings 11:14 "And the LORD stirred up an adversary unto Solomon, Hadad the
Edomite"[12]
1 Kings 11:23 "And God stirred him up an adversary, Rezon the son of Eliadah"
Rabbinical Judaism
In Judaism, Satan is a term used since its earliest biblical contexts to refer to a human opponent.
[26]
Occasionally, the term has been used to suggest evil influence opposing human beings, as in
the Jewish exegesis of the Yetzer hara ("evil inclination" Genesis 6:5). Micaiah's "lying spirit" in
1 Kings 22:22 is sometimes related. Thus, Satan is personified as a character in three different
places of the Tenakh, serving as an accuser (Zechariah 3:12), a seducer (1 Chronicles 21:1), or
as a heavenly persecutor who is "among the sons of God" (Job 2:1). In any case, Satan is always
subordinate to the power of God, having a role in the divine plan. Satan is rarely mentioned in
Tannaitic literature, but is found in Babylonian aggadah.[20]
In medieval Judaism, the Rabbis rejected these Enochic literary works into the Biblical canon,
making every attempt to root them out.[19] Traditionalists and philosophers in medieval Judaism
adhered to rational theology, rejecting any belief in rebel or fallen angels, and viewing evil as
abstract.[27] The Yetzer hara ("evil inclination" Genesis 6:5) is a more common motif for evil in
rabbinical texts. Rabbinical scholarship on the Book of Job generally follows the Talmud and
Maimonides as identifying the "Adversary" in the prologue of Job as a metaphor.[28]
In Hasidic Judaism, the Kabbalah presents Satan as an agent of God whose function is to tempt
one into sin, then turn around and accuse the sinner on high.[vague] The Chasidic Jews of the 18th
century associated ha-Satan with Baal Davar.[29]
Christianity
Main article: Devil in Christianity
how every sorrow has its source in him! -Dante in Inferno, Canto X
out of heaven[22] and an evil spirit who knew the difference between what was "righteous" and
"sinful".[23] A similar story is found in the book of 1 Enoch; however, in that book, the leader of
the Grigori is called Semjz.
In the Book of Wisdom, the devil is represented as the being who brought death into the world.[24]
In the Book of Jubilees, Mastema induces God to test Abraham through the sacrifice of Isaac. He
is identical to Satan in both name and nature.[25]
Rabbinical Judaism
In Judaism, Satan is a term used since its earliest biblical contexts to refer to a human opponent.
[26]
Occasionally, the term has been used to suggest evil influence opposing human beings, as in
the Jewish exegesis of the Yetzer hara ("evil inclination" Genesis 6:5). Micaiah's "lying spirit" in
1 Kings 22:22 is sometimes related. Thus, Satan is personified as a character in three different
places of the Tenakh, serving as an accuser (Zechariah 3:12), a seducer (1 Chronicles 21:1), or
as a heavenly persecutor who is "among the sons of God" (Job 2:1). In any case, Satan is always
subordinate to the power of God, having a role in the divine plan. Satan is rarely mentioned in
Tannaitic literature, but is found in Babylonian aggadah.[20]
In medieval Judaism, the Rabbis rejected these Enochic literary works into the Biblical canon,
making every attempt to root them out.[19] Traditionalists and philosophers in medieval Judaism
adhered to rational theology, rejecting any belief in rebel or fallen angels, and viewing evil as
abstract.[27] The Yetzer hara ("evil inclination" Genesis 6:5) is a more common motif for evil in
rabbinical texts. Rabbinical scholarship on the Book of Job generally follows the Talmud and
Maimonides as identifying the "Adversary" in the prologue of Job as a metaphor.[28]
In Hasidic Judaism, the Kabbalah presents Satan as an agent of God whose function is to tempt
one into sin, then turn around and accuse the sinner on high.[vague] The Chasidic Jews of the 18th
century associated ha-Satan with Baal Davar.[29]
Christianity
Main article: Devil in Christianity
See also: War in Heaven
how every sorrow has its source in him! -Dante in Inferno, Canto X
Satan is trapped in the frozen central zone in the Ninth Circle of Hell, Canto XXXIV (Gustave
Dor)
Satan is traditionally identified as the serpent who tempted Eve to eat the forbidden fruit, as he
was in Judaism.[30] Thus Satan has often been depicted as a serpent. Christian agreement with this
can be found in the works of Justin Martyr, in Chapters 45 and 79 of Dialogue with Trypho,
where Justin identifies Satan and the serpent.[31] Other early church fathers to mention this
identification include Theophilus and Tertullian.[32]
From the fourth century, Lucifer is sometimes used in Christian theology to refer to Satan, as a
result of identifying the fallen "son of the dawn" of Isaiah 14:12 with the "accuser" of other
passages in the Old Testament.[citation needed]
For most Christians, Satan is believed to be an angel who rebelled against God. In the New
Testament he is called "the ruler of the demons" (Matthew 12:24), "the ruler of the world", and
"the god of this world" (2 Cor. 4:4). The Book of Revelation describes how Satan was cast out of
Heaven, having "great anger" and waging war against "those who obey God's commandments".
Ultimately, Satan will be thrown into the lake of fire.[33]
Satan without the definite article is used in 10 instances, of which two are translated diabolos in
the Septuagint and "Satan" in the King James Version:
1 Chronicles 21:1, "Satan stood up against Israel" (KJV) or "And there standeth up an
adversary against Israel" (Young's Literal Translation)[10]
Psalm 109:6b "and let Satan stand at his right hand" (KJV)[11] or "let an accuser stand at
his right hand." (ESV, etc.)
The other eight instances of satan without the definite article are traditionally translated (in
Greek, Latin and English) as "an adversary", etc., and taken to be humans or obedient angels:
Numbers 22:22,32 "and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against
him."
1 Samuel 29:4 The Philistines say: "lest he [David] be an adversary against us"
2 Samuel 19:22 David says: "[you sons of Zeruaiah] should this day be adversaries
(plural) unto me?"
1 Kings 5:4 Solomon writes to Hiram: "there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent."
1 Kings 11:14 "And the LORD stirred up an adversary unto Solomon, Hadad the
Edomite"[12]
1 Kings 11:23 "And God stirred him up an adversary, Rezon the son of Eliadah"
Book of Job
The examination of Job, Satan pours on the plagues of Job, by William Blake. Illustration was
made on c. 1821.
At the beginning of the book, Job is a good person "who revered God and turned away from evil"
(Job 1:1), and has therefore been rewarded by God. When the angels present themselves to God,
Satan comes as well. God informs Satan about Job's blameless, morally upright character.
Between Job 1:910 and 2:45, Satan points out that God has given Job everything that a man
could want, so of course Job would be loyal to God; Satan suggests that Job's faith would
collapse if all he has been given (even his health) were to be taken away from him. God therefore
gives Satan permission to test Job.[13] In the end, Job remains faithful and righteous, and there is
the implication that Satan is shamed in his defeat.[14]
William Blake's illustration of Satan as presented in John Milton's Paradise Lost. Illustration was
made on c. 1808.
Illustration of a scene from John Milton's Paradise Lost, wherein Satan falls into the river Styx
(Hate), by Darodes, c. 1868.
Gustave Dor, Depiction of Satan, a central figure in John Milton's Paradise Lost c. 1866
Satan (Hebrew: satan, meaning "enemy" or "adversary";[1] Arabic: shaitan, meaning;
"astray", "distant", or sometimes "devil") is a figure appearing in the texts of the Abrahamic
religions[2][3] who brings evil and temptation, and is known as the deceiver who leads humanity
astray. Some religious groups teach that he originated as an angel, or something of the like, who
used to possess great piety and beauty, but fell because of hubris, seducing humanity into the
ways of falsehood and sin, and has power in the fallen world. In the Hebrew Bible and the New
Testament, Satan is primarily an accuser and adversary, a decidedly malevolent entity, also called
the devil, who possesses demonic qualities.
Although Satan is generally viewed as having negative characteristics, some groups have very
different beliefs. In Theistic Satanism, Satan is considered a deity who is either worshipped or
revered. In LaVeyan Satanism, "Satan" is a symbol of virtuous characteristics and liberty.[4][5]
Contents
1 Judaism
o 1.1 Hebrew Bible
1.2.1 Septuagint
2 Christianity
o 2.1 Terminology
3 Islam
o 3.1 Sufi view of Satan
4 Yazidism
5 Bah' Faith
6 Satanism
o 6.1 Theistic Satanism
o 6.2 Atheistic Satanism
7 Notes
8 References
9 External links
Judaism
Hebrew Bible
The original Hebrew term satan is a noun from a verb meaning primarily "to obstruct, oppose",
as it is found in Numbers 22:22, 1 Samuel 29:4, Psalms 109:6.[6] Ha-Satan is traditionally
translated as "the accuser" or "the adversary". The definite article ha- (English: "the") is used to
show that this is a title bestowed on a being, versus the name of a being. Thus, this being would
be referred to as "the satan".[7]
Thirteen occurrences
Ha-Satan with the definite article occurs 13 times in the Masoretic Text, in two books of the
Hebrew Bible: Job ch.12 (10x)[8] and Zechariah 3:12 (3x).[9]
Satan without the definite article is used in 10 instances, of which two are translated diabolos in
the Septuagint and "Satan" in the King James Version:
1 Chronicles 21:1, "Satan stood up against Israel" (KJV) or "And there standeth up an
adversary against Israel" (Young's Literal Translation)[10]
Psalm 109:6b "and let Satan stand at his right hand" (KJV)[11] or "let an accuser stand at
his right hand." (ESV, etc.)
The other eight instances of satan without the definite article are traditionally translated (in
Greek, Latin and English) as "an adversary", etc., and taken to be humans or obedient angels:
Numbers 22:22,32 "and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against
him."
1 Samuel 29:4 The Philistines say: "lest he [David] be an adversary against us"
2 Samuel 19:22 David says: "[you sons of Zeruaiah] should this day be adversaries
(plural) unto me?"
1 Kings 5:4 Solomon writes to Hiram: "there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent."
1 Kings 11:14 "And the LORD stirred up an adversary unto Solomon, Hadad the
Edomite"[12]
1 Kings 11:23 "And God stirred him up an adversary, Rezon the son of Eliadah"
Book of Job
The examination of Job, Satan pours on the plagues of Job, by William Blake. Illustration was
made on c. 1821.
At the beginning of the book, Job is a good person "who revered God and turned away from evil"
(Job 1:1), and has therefore been rewarded by God. When the angels present themselves to God,
Satan comes as well. God informs Satan about Job's blameless, morally upright character.
Between Job 1:910 and 2:45, Satan points out that God has given Job everything that a man
could want, so of course Job would be loyal to God; Satan suggests that Job's faith would
collapse if all he has been given (even his health) were to be taken away from him. God therefore
gives Satan permission to test Job.[13] In the end, Job remains faithful and righteous, and there is
the implication that Satan is shamed in his defeat.[14]
Rabbinical Judaism
In Judaism, Satan is a term used since its earliest biblical contexts to refer to a human opponent.
[26]
Occasionally, the term has been used to suggest evil influence opposing human beings, as in
the Jewish exegesis of the Yetzer hara ("evil inclination" Genesis 6:5). Micaiah's "lying spirit" in
1 Kings 22:22 is sometimes related. Thus, Satan is personified as a character in three different
places of the Tenakh, serving as an accuser (Zechariah 3:12), a seducer (1 Chronicles 21:1), or
as a heavenly persecutor who is "among the sons of God" (Job 2:1). In any case, Satan is always
subordinate to the power of God, having a role in the divine plan. Satan is rarely mentioned in
Tannaitic literature, but is found in Babylonian aggadah.[20]
In medieval Judaism, the Rabbis rejected these Enochic literary works into the Biblical canon,
making every attempt to root them out.[19] Traditionalists and philosophers in medieval Judaism
adhered to rational theology, rejecting any belief in rebel or fallen angels, and viewing evil as
abstract.[27] The Yetzer hara ("evil inclination" Genesis 6:5) is a more common motif for evil in
rabbinical texts. Rabbinical scholarship on the Book of Job generally follows the Talmud and
Maimonides as identifying the "Adversary" in the prologue of Job as a metaphor.[28]
In Hasidic Judaism, the Kabbalah presents Satan as an agent of God whose function is to tempt
one into sin, then turn around and accuse the sinner on high.[vague] The Chasidic Jews of the 18th
century associated ha-Satan with Baal Davar.[29]
Christianity
Main article: Devil in Christianity
See also: War in Heaven
how every sorrow has its source in him! -Dante in Inferno, Canto X
Satan is trapped in the frozen central zone in the Ninth Circle of Hell, Canto XXXIV (Gustave
Dor)
Satan is traditionally identified as the serpent who tempted Eve to eat the forbidden fruit, as he
was in Judaism.[30] Thus Satan has often been depicted as a serpent. Christian agreement with this
can be found in the works of Justin Martyr, in Chapters 45 and 79 of Dialogue with Trypho,
where Justin identifies Satan and the serpent.[31] Other early church fathers to mention this
identification include Theophilus and Tertullian.[32]
From the fourth century, Lucifer is sometimes used in Christian theology to refer to Satan, as a
result of identifying the fallen "son of the dawn" of Isaiah 14:12 with the "accuser" of other
passages in the Old Testament.[citation needed]
For most Christians, Satan is believed to be an angel who rebelled against God. In the New
Testament he is called "the ruler of the demons" (Matthew 12:24), "the ruler of the world", and
"the god of this world" (2 Cor. 4:4). The Book of Revelation describes how Satan was cast out of
Heaven, having "great anger" and waging war against "those who obey God's commandments".
Ultimately, Satan will be thrown into the lake of fire.[33]
Illustration for John Milton's Paradise Lost by Gustave Dor, (1886) showing Lucifer's descent
and his deterioration into Satan.
Terminology
In Christianity, there are many synonyms for Satan. The most common English synonym for
"Satan" is "devil", which descends from Middle English devel, from Old English dofol, that in
turn represents an early Germanic borrowing of Latin diabolus (also the source of "diabolical").
This in turn was borrowed from Greek diabolos "slanderer", from diaballein "to slander": dia"across, through" + ballein "to hurl".[35] In the New Testament, "Satan" occurs more than 30
times in passages alongside diabolos, slanderer, referring to the same person or thing as Satan.[36]
Beelzebub, meaning "Lord of Flies", is the contemptuous name given in the Hebrew Bible and
New Testament to a Philistine god whose original name has been reconstructed as most probably
"Ba'al Zabul", meaning "Baal the Prince".[37] This pun was later used to refer to Satan as well.
The Book of Revelation twice refers to "the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil
and Satan" (12:9, 20:2). The Book of Revelation also refers to "the deceiver", from which is
derived the common epithet "the great deceiver".[38]
Islam
Main article: Devil (Islam)
See also: Azazel Azazel in Islam
Shaitan ( )is the equivalent of Satan in Islam. While Shaitan (, from the root t n)(
is an adjective (meaning "astray" or "distant", sometimes translated as "devil") that can be
applied to both man ("al-ins", )and jinn, Iblis (Arabic pronunciation: [iblis]) is the personal
name of the Devil who is mentioned in the Qur'anic account of Genesis.[39] According to the
Qur'an, Iblis (the Arabic name used) disobeyed an order from Allah to bow to Adam, and as a
result Iblis was forced out of heaven. However, he was given respite from further punishment
until the day of judgment.
According to the Qur'an, God created Satan, along with all of the other jinn, out of "smokeless
fire". The primary characteristic of the Devil, besides hubris, is that he has no power other than
the power to cast evil suggestions into the hearts of men and women. The Quran says that Satan
was among the angels whom God ordered to bow down to Adam after his creation, it says in
18:50:
And [mention] when We said to the angels, "Prostrate to Adam," and they prostrated, except for
Iblees. He was of the jinn and departed from the command of his Lord. Then will you take him
and his descendants as allies other than Me while they are enemies to you? Wretched it is for the
wrongdoers as an exchange.
Whether Satan was actually an angel or a Jinn whom God elevated to the angelic assembly is a
matter of debate among Muslim scholars. Some scholars, such as Ibn Abbas, believe that Satan
was actually an angel whom God created out of fire. He was the most worshipful and
knowledgeable of angels. Thus, when the Quran identifies Satan as a Jinn, it means that he
belonged to a class of fiery creatures called Jinn, which encompasses both heavenly Jinn (fiery
angels) and earthly (ordinary) Jinn.[40] Such a notion is evocative of the biblical seraphim, a rank
of angels looking like burning fire. Long before Adam was created, traditions narrate, earthly
jinn roamed the earth and spread corruption upon it. God sent an army of angels under the
leadership of Satan to fight them. After his victory, Satan's ego conflated; he thought he was
better than any other creature, and thus God's favorite. God's creation of Man and his order to the
angels to venerate him was a blow to Satan's pride. While all the angels obeyed God and bowed
down to Adam, Satan disobeyed haughtily saying 38:76:
"I am better than him. You created me from fire and created him from clay."
Consequently, God expelled Satan from Heaven, with the latter promising to lure mankind into
disbelief and evil as an act of revenge from their father, Adam.[41] Also, some scholars call Satan
"The Peacock of Angels", referencing his foolish hubris.[42] On the other hand, other scholars
believe that there are no such things as heavenly Jinn or fiery angels, and thus Satan was not an
angel. He was a Jinn whom God elevated to Heaven as a reward for his worship and
righteousness. This explains why Satan managed to refuse God's order, as angels do not have
free will; they obey God's orders without questioning or complaining. As for the angels, they
prostrated before Adam to show their homage and obedience to God. However, Satan, adamant
in his view that man is inferior, and unlike angels was given the ability to choose, made a choice
of not obeying God. This caused him to be expelled by God, a fact that Satan blamed on
humanity. Hasan of Basra, an eminent Muslim theologian who lived in the 7th century A.D, was
quoted as saying:
"Iblis was not an angel even for the time of an eye wink. He is the origin of Jinn as Adam is of
Mankind.[43]"
It was after Satan's disobedience of God that the title of "Shaitan" was given to him, which can
be roughly translated as "Enemy", "Rebel", "Evil", or "Devil". Shaitan then claims that, if the
punishment for his act of disobedience is to be delayed until the Day of Judgment, then he will
divert many of Adam's own descendants from the straight path during his period of respite.[44]
God accepts the claims of Iblis and guarantees recompense to Iblis and his followers in the form
of Hellfire. In order to test mankind and jinn alike, Allah allowed Iblis to roam the earth to
attempt to convert others away from his path.[45] He was sent to earth along with Adam and Eve,
after eventually luring them into eating the fruit from the forbidden tree.[46]
Yazidism
An alternative name for the main deity in the tentatively Indo-European pantheon of the Yazidis,
Melek Taus, is Shaitan.[52] However, rather than being Satanic, Yazidism can be understood as a
remnant of a pre-Islamic Middle Eastern Indo-European religion, and/or a ghulat Sufi movement
founded by Shaykh Adi. Conversely the similarity and parallels that Melek Taus has with the
entity known as Satan that Christians and Muslims believe in is well noted by scholars and
researchers. The connection with Satan, originally made by Muslims, attracted the interest of
19th-century European travelers and esoteric writers.
Bah' Faith
In the Bah' Faith, Satan is not regarded as an independent evil power as he is in some faiths,
but signifies the lower nature of humans. `Abdu'l-Bah explains: "This lower nature in man is
symbolized as Satan the evil ego within us, not an evil personality outside."[53][54] All other evil
spirits described in various faith traditionssuch as fallen angels, demons, and jinnsare also
metaphors for the base character traits a human being may acquire and manifest when he turns
away from God.[55]
Satanism
Main article: Satanism
Within Satanism, two major trends exists, theistic Satanism and atheistic Satanism, both having
different views regarding the essence of Satan.
Theistic Satanism
Theistic Satanism, commonly referred to as "devil worship",[56] holds that Satan is an actual deity
or force to revere or worship that individuals may contact and supplicate to,[57][58] and represents
loosely affiliated or independent groups and cabals which hold the belief that Satan is a real
entity[59] rather than an archetype.
Among non-Satanists, much modern Satanic folklore does not originate with the beliefs or
practices of theistic or atheistic Satanists, but a mixture of medieval Christian folk beliefs,
political or sociological conspiracy theories, and contemporary urban legends.[60][61][62][63] An
example is the Satanic ritual abuse scare of the 1980s beginning with the memoir Michelle
Remembers which depicted Satanism as a vast conspiracy of elites with a predilection for
child abuse and human sacrifice.[61][62] This genre frequently describes Satan as physically
incarnating in order to receive worship.[63]
Atheistic Satanism
Atheistic Satanism, most commonly referred to as LaVeyan Satanism, holds that Satan does not
exist as a literal anthropomorphic entity, but rather as a symbol of a cosmos which Satanists
perceive to be permeated and motivated by a force that has been given many names by humans
over the course of time. In this religion, "Satan" is not viewed or depicted as a hubristic,
irrational, and fraudulent creature, but is rather seen as being Prometheus-like in terms of
attributes, symbolizing liberty and the like.To adherents, he also serves as a conceptual
framework and an external metaphorical projection of [the Satanists] highest personal potential.
[64][65][66][67][68][69]
In his essay "Satanism: The Feared Religion", the current High Priest of the
Church of Satan, Peter H. Gilmore, further expounds that "...Satan is a symbol of Man living as
his prideful, carnal nature dictates. The reality behind Satan is simply the dark evolutionary force
of entropy that permeates all of nature and provides the drive for survival and propagation
inherent in all living things. Satan is not a conscious entity to be worshiped, rather a reservoir of
power inside each human to be tapped at will".[70]
LaVeyan Satanists embrace the original etymological meaning of the word "Satan" (Hebrew:
satan, meaning "adversary"). According to Peter H. Gilmore, "The Church of Satan has chosen
Satan as its primary symbol because in Hebrew it means adversary, opposer, one to accuse or
question. We see ourselves as being these Satans; the adversaries, opposers and accusers of all
spiritual belief systems that would try to hamper enjoyment of our life as a human being"[71]
Notes
1.
http://jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/13219-satan "Term used in the Bible with the general
connotation of "adversary", being applied (1) to an enemy in war (I Kings v. 18 [A. V. 4]; xi. 14,
23, 25), from which use is developed the concept of a traitor in battle (I Sam. xxix. 4); (2) to an
accuser before the judgment-seat (Ps. cix. 6); and (3) to any opponent (II Sam. xix. 23 [A. V.
22]). The word is likewise used to denote an antagonist who puts obstacles in the way, as in
Num. xxii. 32, where the angel of God is described as opposing Balaam in the guise of a satan or
adversary; so that the concept of Satan as a distinct being was not then known."
Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of World Religions, page 290, Wendy Doniger
Leeming, David Adams (2005). The Oxford Companion to World Mythology. Oxford
University Press. p. 347. ISBN 978-0-19-515669-0.
Contemporary Religious Satanisim: A Critical Reader, Jesper Aagaard Petersen 2009
Who's ? Right: Mankind, Religions and the End Times, page 35, Kelly Warman-Stallings
2012
ed. Buttrick, George Arthur; The Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible, An illustrated
Encyclopedia
Crenshaw, James L. Harper Collins Study Bible (NRSV), 1989
Stephen M. Hooks 2007 "As in Zechariah 3:12 the term here carries the definite
article (has'satan="the satan") and functions not as a ... the only place in the Hebrew Bible where
the term "Satan" is unquestionably used as a proper name is 1 Chronicles 21:1."
Coogan, Michael D.; A Brief Introduction to the Old Testament: The Hebrew Bible in its
context, Oxford University Press, 2009
Rachel Adelman The Return of the Repressed: Pirqe De-Rabbi Eliezer p65 "However, in
the parallel versions of the story in Chronicles, it is Satan (without the definite article),"
Septuagint 108:6
Ruth R. Brand Adam and Eve p88 2005 "Later, however, King Hadad 1 Kings 11:14)
and King Rezon (verses 23, ... Numbers 22:22, 23 does not use the definite article but identifies
the angel of YHWH as "a satan."
HarperCollins Study Bible (NRSV)
Steinmann, AE. "The structure and message of the Book of Job". Vetus Testamentum.
Jeffrey Burton Russell, The Devil: Perceptions of Evil from Antiquity to Primitive ...1977,
page 102 "This conflict between truth and the lie was one of the main sources of Zarathushtra's
dualism: the prophet perceived Angra Mainyu, the lord of evil, as the personification of the lie.
For Zoroastrians (as for the Egyptians), the lie was the essence ... "
Peter Clark, Zoroastrianism: An Introduction to Ancient Faith 1998, page 152 "There are
so many features that Zoroastrianism seems to share with the Judeo-Christian tradition that it
would be difficult to ... Historically the first point of contact that we can determine is when the
Achaemenian Cyrus conquered Babylon ..539 BC"
Winn, Shan M.M. (1995). Heaven, heroes, and happiness : the Indo-European roots of
Western ideology. Lanham, Md.: University press of America. p. 203. ISBN 0819198609.
Henry Ansgar Kelly Satan: a biography 2006 "However, for Hadad and Rezon they left
the Hebrew term untranslated and simply said satan.. in the three passages in which a supraHuman satan appears: namely, Numbers, Job, Zechariah
Jackson, David R. (2004). Enochic Judaism. London: T&T Clark International. pp. 24.
ISBN 0826470890.
Berlin, editor in chief, Adele (2011). The Oxford dictionary of the Jewish religion (2nd
ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. p. 651. ISBN 0199730040.
2 Enoch 18:3. On this tradition, see A. Orlov, "The Watchers of Satanael: The Fallen
Angels Traditions in 2 (Slavonic) Enoch," in: A. Orlov, Dark Mirrors: Azazel and Satanael in
Early Jewish Demonology (Albany: SUNY, 2011) 85106.
"And I threw him out from the height with his angels, and he was flying in the air
continuously above the bottomless" 2 Enoch 29:4
"The devil is the evil spirit of the lower places, as a fugitive he made Sotona from the
heavens as his name was Satanail, thus he became different from the angels, but his nature did
not change his intelligence as far as his understanding of righteous and sinful things" 2 Enoch
31:4
See The Book of Wisdom: With Introduction and Notes, p. 27, Object of the book, by A.
T. S. Goodrick.
[ Introduction to the Book of Jubilees, 15. Theology. Some of our Author's Views:
Demonology, by R.H. Charles.
Based on the Jewish exegesis of 1 Samuel 29:4 and 1 Kings 5:18 Oxford dictionary of
the Jewish religion, 2011, p. 651 "Satan is rarely mentioned in tannaitic literature; later, chiefly
Babylonian, aggadah enlarges the scope of his influence and activities. Perhaps because of the
influential presence of Satan as a name or character in the New Testament and the"
Bamberger, Bernard J. (2006). Fallen angels : soldiers of satan's realm (1. paperback
ed.). Philadelphia, Pa.: Jewish Publ. Soc. of America. p. 148,149. ISBN 0827607970.
Robert Eisen Associate Professor of Religious Studies George Washington University
The Book of Job in Medieval Jewish Philosophy 2004 p120 "Moreover, Zerahfiiah gives us
insight into the parallel between the Garden of Eden story and the Job story alluded to ... both
Satan and Job's wife are metaphors for the evil inclination, a motif Zerahfiiah seems to identify
with the imagination."
The Dictionary of Angels" by Gustav Davidson, 1967
"SATAN - JewishEncyclopedia.com". jewishencyclopedia.com.
Kelly, Harry Ansgar (2007). Satan: a Biography. Cambridge: Cambridge University
Press. p. 176. ISBN 978-0-521-84339-3.
Kelly, Harry Ansgar (2007). Satan: a Biography. Cambridge: Cambridge University
Press. p. 177. ISBN 978-0-521-84339-3.
Revelation 20:10
Origen. Contra Celsum. Book 6. Ch 42.
"American Heritage Dictionary: Devil". Retrieved 2006-05-31.
Revelation 12:9
K. van der Toorn, Bob Becking, Pieter Willem van der Horst, Baalzebub, "Dictionary of
deities and demons in the Bible", p. 155
B. W. Johnson (1891). "The Revelation of John. Chapter XX. The Millennium.". The
People's New Testament. Memorial University of Newfoundland. Retrieved November 30, 2009.
"Iblis". themystica.org.
Tafsir al-Qur'an al-adhim (Interpretation of the Great Qur'an) - Ibn Kathir - commentary
of surat al baqarah
The Beginning and the End - Ibn Kathir - Volume I
Adapted from http://islamqa.info/ar/8976
The Beginning and the End - Ibn Kathir - Volume I, also the Koranic commentary of the
same author
[Quran 17:62]
[Quran 17:6364]
[Quran 7:2022]
Adapted from A History of God, Karen Armstrong
Adapted from No god but God, Reza Aslan
"The Greater Satan", Javad Nurbakhsh
"The Disobedience of Iblis in Sufism - Journey to the Sea". journeytothesea.com.
Al insan Al Kamel (the perfect human), Abdul Karim Jili
Drower, E.S. The Peacock Angel. Being Some Account of Votaries of a Secret Cult and
their Sanctuaries. London: John Murray, 1941. [1]
Abdul-Bah (1982) [1912]. The Promulgation of Universal Peace. Wilmette, Illinois,
USA: Bah' Publishing Trust. pp. 294295. ISBN 0-87743-172-8.
Smith, Peter (2000). A Concise Encyclopedia of the Bah' Faith. Oxford, UK: Oneworld.
pp. 135136, 304. ISBN 1-85168-184-1.
Smith, Peter (2008). An Introduction to the Baha'i Faith. Cambridge: Cambridge
University Press. p. 112. ISBN 0-521-86251-5.
"Cerro Rico: Devil worship on the man-eating mountain". BBC News.
Partridge, Christopher Hugh (2004). The Re-enchantment of the West. p. 82. Retrieved
2008-05-12.
Satanism and Demonology, by Lionel & Patricia Fanthorpe, Dundurn Press, 8 Mar 2011,
p. 74, "If, as theistic Satanists believe, the devil is an intelligent, self-aware entity..." "Theistic
Satanism then becomes explicable in terms of Lucifer's ambition to be the supreme god and his
rebellion against Yahweh. [...] This simplistic, controntational view is modified by other theistic
Satanists who do not regard their hero as evil: far from it. For them he is a freedom fighter..."
"Interview_MLO". Angelfire.com. Retrieved 2011-11-30.
Cinema of the Occult: New Age, Satanism, Wicca, and Spiritualism in Film, Carrol Lee
Fry, Associated University Presse, 2008, pp. 9298
Encyclopedia of Urban Legends, Updated and Expanded Edition, by Jan Harold
Brunvand, ABC-CLIO, 31 Jul 2012 pp. 694695
Raising the Devil: Satanism, New Religions, and the Media, by Bill Ellis, University
Press of Kentucky p. 125 In discussing myths about groups accused of Satanism, "...such myths
are already pervasive in Western culture, and the development of the modern "Satanic Scare"
would be impossible to explain without showing how these myths helped organize concerns and
beliefs". Accusations of Satanism are traced from the witch hunts, to the Illuminati, to the
Satanic Ritual Abuse panic in the 1980s, with a distinction made between what modern Satanists
believe and what is believed about Satanists.
Satan in America: The Devil We Know, by W. Scott Poole, Rowman & Littlefield
Publishers, 16 Nov 2009, pp. 4243
Catherine Beyer. "An Introduction to LaVeyan Satanism and the Church of Satan".
About.com Religion & Spirituality.
High Priest, Magus Peter H. Gilmore. "What, The Devil?". churchofsatan.com.
High Priest, Magus Peter H. Gilmore. "F.A.Q. Fundamental Beliefs". churchofsatan.com.
[2] Archived July 1, 2012, at the Wayback Machine.
High Priest, Magus Peter H. Gilmore. "Religious Requirements and Practices churchofsatan.com". churchofsatan.com.
Contemporary religious Satanism: a critical anthology, page 45, Jesper Aagaard
Petersen, 2009
High Priest, Magus Peter H. Gilmore. "Satanism: The Feared Religion".
churchofsatan.com.
1.
References
Caldwell, William. "The Doctrine of Satan: I. In the Old Testament", The Biblical World,
Vol. 41, No. 1 (Jan., 1913), pp. 2933 in JSTOR
Caldwell, William. "The Doctrine of Satan: III. In the New Testament", The Biblical
World, Vol. 41, No. 3 (Mar., 1913), pp. 167172 in JSTOR
Forsyth, Neil (1987). The Old Enemy: Satan & the Combat Myth. Princeton University
Press; Reprint edition. ISBN 0-691-01474-4.
Forsyth, Neil (1987). The Satanic Epic. Princeton University Press; Reprint edition.
ISBN 0-691-11339-4.
Gentry, Kenneth L. Jr (2002). The Beast of Revelation. American Vision. ISBN 0-91581541-9.
Graves, Kersey (1995). Biography of Satan: Exposing the Origins of the Devil. Book
Tree. ISBN 1-885395-11-6.
Jacobs, Joseph, and Ludwig Blau. "Satan," The Jewish Encyclopedia (1906) online pp
6871
Kelly, Henry Ansgar. Satan: A Biography. (2006). 360 pp. excerpt and text search ISBN
0-521-60402-8, a study of the Bible and Western literature
Kent, William. "Devil." The Catholic Encyclopedia (1908) Vol. 4. online older article
Pagels, Elaine (1995). The Origin of Satan. Vintage; Reprint edition. ISBN 0-679-722327.
Rebhorn Wayne A. "The Humanist Tradition and Milton's Satan: The Conservative as
Revolutionary," Studies in English Literature, 15001900, Vol. 13, No. 1, The English
Renaissance (Winter, 1973), pp. 8193 in JSTOR
Rudwin, Maximilian (1970). The Devil in Legend and Literature. Open Court. ISBN 087548-248-1.
Russell, Jeffrey Burton. The Devil: Perceptions of Evil from Antiquity to Primitive
Christianity (1987) excerpt and text search
Russell, Jeffrey Burton. Satan: The Early Christian Tradition (1987) excerpt and text
search
Russell, Jeffrey Burton. Lucifer: The Devil in the Middle Ages (1986) excerpt and text
search
Russell, Jeffrey Burton. Mephistopheles: The Devil in the Modern World (1990) excerpt
and text search
Russell, Jeffrey Burton. The Prince of Darkness: Radical Evil and the Power of Good in
History (1992) excerpt and text search
Scott, Miriam Van. The Encyclopedia of Hell (1999) excerpt and text search comparative
religions; also popular culture
Wray, T. J. and Gregory Mobley. The Birth of Satan: Tracing the Devil's Biblical Roots
(2005) excerpt and text search
External links
Look up Satan in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Wikiquote has quotations related to: Satan
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Satan.
The Internet Sacred Texts Archive hosts textsscriptures, literature and scholarly works
on Satan, Satanism and related religious matters
Satan
Abrahamic mythology
Demons in Christianity
Fallen angels
Hell
Individual angels
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